The Scope of Black Artistry Was Palpable as Ever at Echelon Noir’s Inaugural Hair Show

Beyoncé’s vocals blared through the speakers, the lights dimmed, and the room was pulsating with anticipation—setting the stage for Echelon Noir’s hair show debut last Friday. The production company took over the forty-first floor at WSA in New York City’s Financial District for “Black Hair Reimagined: The New Era of Beauty,” a powerful homage to the rich legacy of Black hair as an art form.

The evening kicked off with host Tracee Ellis Ross offering insightful commentary on each featured hair stylist, giving guests an idea of what they could expect during the show. Her introductions—mixed with light-hearted remarks—shed light on the creative forces behind the evening’s fantasy-like beauty. 25 eye-catching looks were brought to life by hair architects Yusef Williams, Vernon François, Malcolm Marquez, Cyndia Harvey, and Echelon Noir co-founder Jawara Wauchope. Runway mainstays Anok Yai, Juelz Smith, Alton Mason, and Jordan Daniels modeled some of the creations.

“There’s nothing we can’t do—Black hair is magical,” Williams told L’OFFICIEL post-show. Each stylist actively collaborated with a fashion stylist to create five distinct looks that cultivated a specific vision. Who were the lucky fashion stylists? Carlos Nazario, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Patti Wilson, Jan-Michael Quammie, and Jessica Willis. Makeup artists Sir John and Sheika Daly rendered bold, expressive looks of their own, allowing the overall styling to produce cohesive, high-impact visual statements.

Just moments into the show, guests were transported into another dimension. Four sultry dancers prowled the runway to the haunting beat of Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight,” signaling this was no ordinary production. Over the next hour or so, the show unfolded into a poignant expression of innovation, identity, freedom, and resistance—core tenets of Black artistry. The celebration of Black culture reached a striking crescendo, evoking deep emotions in the room. Black models of every skin tone commanded the runway with a vital message: Blackness is not a monolith. Black beauty comes in many forms, each more elaborate than the last.

Attendees were a who’s who of cultural tastemakers, including Solange Knowles, Paloma Elsesser, Luar Creative Director Raul Lopez, Off-White’s Ib Kamara, Justine Skye, and Fai Khadra, who did the show’s set design.

The show’s open embrace of Black culture was not only timely, but deeply aligned with Monday night's Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The event promises an ode to Black sartorial craftsmanship, sharp tailoring, and dandyism, which Wauchope tells L’OFFICIEL makes him “super excited” and quite curious as to how it will unfold. “Black Hair Reimagined” had all the makings of a classic 1940s Bronner Brothers hair show—high drama, artistry, and unapologetic style—but in a contemporary manner. The influence of the Bronner Brothers, themselves Black dandies in their own right, was unmistakable and intentional: They laid the foundation for platforms like this. Williams, who competed in junior Bronner Brothers hair battles at 17, says the experience taught him to “think outside the box”—a lesson clearly still in practice. 

In today’s turbulent cultural and political climate, a show like “Black Hair Reimagined” carries more weight than ever. The showcase stands as resistance and reclamation, amidst relentless attempts by the current presidential administration to suppress Black history. This wasn’t just a beauty show, but a declaration of presence, legacy, and innovation. As Black lineage is being disputed, this show asserts it boldly from within by honoring the past and shaping the future. Echelon Noir’s mission—to elevate Black spaces and amplify the culture—is not just relevant, but urgent.